Laundry machine



Feb. 5, 1935. w E, BQCK 1,989,664

LAUNDRY MACH I NE Filed Sept. 2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM E. BOCK ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1935. w E 1,989,664

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W\\.L.\AM E. BOCK ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1935. w. E. BOCK 1,989,664

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY W ATTORNEY INVENTOR WI LLIAM E. BOCK Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAUNDRY MACHINE William E. Book, Toledo, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Book Laundry Machine Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 2, 1930, Serial No. 479,337

3 Claims. (Cl. 259-101) machines of this general type have been devised in which the washer and extractor are alternately operated from a single power unit. An objection to such constructions is that the time must be divided between the two operations with the result of a loss of efficiency of each mechanism. On the other hand where the washing and the extraction are effected in separate units this involves loss of time in transferring from one to the other as well as dripping of water from the clothes during such transfer. Furthermore, the mechanism through which the two devices are alternately driven is necessarily complex and adds to the cost of construction and to the noise of operation.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a construction in which the washer and extractor form a part of a single unit but are independently operable so that both may be in operation at the same time. It is a further object to so associate these two devices that transfer of the clothes from one to the other may be readily effected without the dripping of water or any danger of dropping ofany article during transfer. It is a further ob 'ect to obtain an exceedingly simple construction of mechanism and one in which the rotating parts are maintained indynamic balance, thereby avoiding vibrations and loss of power.- With these objects in view the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set-forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical central longitudinal section through my improved machine;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section substantially on line 22 of Figure 1 and Figures 3 and 4 are horizontal sections respectively on lines 33 and 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical section showing a portion of a modified construction.

In general structure my improved machine comprises a base frame A which is preferably mounted upon casters B for easy transportation or change in working position. The frame A is of an elongated form and has mounted thereon on one side of the longitudinal center a washing machine unit C and upon the opposite side of the center an extracting unit D. Each of these units has an upwardly extending hollow central column E E and an enlarged receptacle F F at the upper end thereof. The two receptacles F and F' extend into close proximity to each other and are connected at the top by a pan G which drains into said receptacles.

Washing unit The washing unit comprises an electric motor H mounted on the base with its armature shaft I extending vertically and centrally of the column E. In axial alignment with this shaft I but separated therefrom is an oscillatory shaft J which extends upward through a central tube K in the receptacle F to a point above the level of the fluid in said receptacle. At its upper end the shaft J is coupled to a tubular shaft L extending downward around the tube K and spaced therefrom to provide working clearance. This tubular shaft L has mounted at its lower end an impeller M which as hereinafter explained is r0- tated alternately in reverse directions to produce a corresponding swirling movement of the liquid in the receptacle F. A removable cover F for the receptacle F serves to retain the fluid therein during the operation of the machine.

Simple electric motors usually run synchronously with the electric generator and therefore at a comparatively high speed. It is therefore necessary to reduce the speed of operation intermediate the drive shaft and the driven shaft J which I have accomplished by the use of a unique mechanism forming the subject matter of another application for patent but which in brief is of the following cgistruc'tionz The armaturrysffaft I extends through a hearing N inaho'rizontal partition N within the column Eawhile a packing gland N is arranged to form 'a lubricant seal. Above the partition N is a mechanism for translating the high speed rotation of the armature shaft in one direction into relatively low speed oscillations or partial rotations alternately in opposite directions. This mechanism includes a pin gear wheel 0 mounted on the bearing N provided with upwardly extending pin teeth 0 distributed around the periphery thereof and also connected by the radially off-set yoke O with the lower end of the driven shaft J. P is a shaft extending transverse to and off-set from the axis of the shafts I and J which shaft is driven from the shaft I through the medium of a worm I and a worm gear wheel I This will effect a very considerable reduction in angular speed of the shaft P with respect to that of the shaft I. On opposite sides of the worm gear I are cam gear wheels F and F which engage with the pin teeth of the pin gear wheel 0 and are effective in imparting to said gear wheel partial revolution first in one direction and then in the reverse direction. The detailed construction of these cam gear wheels F and forms no part of the present invention and therefore I consider it unnecessary to enter into further description of the same other than to state that a substantially harmonic movement will be *transmitted from the shaft P to the pin gear wheel which latter through the yoke O transmits such movement to the shaft K, tubular shaft L and impeller M. The gearing just described may be flooded with lubricant which is held from escape by the gland N and the total effect is to produce a relatively noiseless mechanism through which high speed rotations of the armature shaft are translated into low speed oscillations of the impeiler.

The cleaning fluid and the articles to be washed may be introduced into the receptacle F through the upper end thereof upon the removal of the cover and whenever desired this fluid may be drawn off through a drain pipe Q controlled by a valve Q operated by the hand Wheel Q The extractor unit is of the type forming the subject matter of a prior patent of mine No. 1,766,213. The essential elements of the construction are a motor R arranged in the base and having its driven shaft R extending upward into the receptacle or housing F. The motor R instead of being rigidly mounted on the frame A is universally pivoted thereon so that the upper end of the shaft R Will have a laterally free or floating movement. Upon the upper end of this shaft is universally pivotally mounted a basket S which is weighted at S in its bottom' portion to be in stable equilibrium. The universal pivot is preferably formed by a ball T fixed in the upper end of theshaft R and engaging a spherical socket T within the basket S and above the bottom thereof. A pin or key T engaging a vertical slot T in the ball T serves to transmit a driving torque without interfering with the freedom of universal pivotal movement.

To transmit to the receptacle or basket S the high speed rotary movement of the motor R it is necessary first to overcome the inertia both of the basket and weighted bottom S and also of the clothes contained in the basket and the water which is held thereby. This load is so great that to rapidly accelerate it to the. desired speed would require motor of power greatly in excess of that required for continuing the rotation during extraction. I have therefore placed a friction ciutch intermediate the rotor shaft of the motor and the shaft R which will limit the torque transmission to that within the capacity of a low powered motor such as desirable for continuing the rotation and extraction. This clutch also forms the subject matter of a co-pending application for patent and will therefore be described in this application only in a general way. As shown,the motor housing R is flexibiy mounted upon rubber cushion blocks R which in turn are supported on a frame U having feet U for resting upon the floor independent of the caster supported frame A. The frame U may be lowered by the operation of thumb screws U so as to take the weight of the extractor thereon and to slightly lift the casters B from contact with the floor. The housing R contains the electromagnetic field R and the rotary armature R which latter is provided with a tubular shaft R sleeved about the driven shaft R. The shafts R and R extend through the housing R into a. sub-housing V within which are arranged the slip clutch W and the friction brake X. As shown in cross section in Figure 3, the clutch comprises a rotary drum W mounted on the shaft R within the housing V. W is a head mounted on the tubular shaft R within the drum W and W are friction shoes for engaging the inner periphery of this drum. The shoes W are pivotally secured to centrifugal rock arms W which are eccentrically pivoted in the head W as indicated at W W are springs for normally drawing the rock arms W radially inward, the arrangement being such that until the rotor has attained a predetermined angular speed the shoes W are free from frictional contact with the drum W but after such speed is attained centrifugal force will move the arm W outward rocking the eccentric pivots and forcing .the shoes into frictional contact with the drum. The amount of force with which the shoes are pressed against the drum is determined by the mass of the rock arms W the leverage produced by the eccentric pivots and the speed of rotation, the parts being so designed and calculated that after the predetermined speed is reached a limited torque will be transmitted through the shoes to the drum W. If this torque exceeds the capacity of the motor ,the latter is at once slowed which by diminishing centrifugal action will correspondingly diminish the friction of the shoes. Thus only the limited torque is transmitted which will gradually accelerate the driven shaft and the inertial load carried thereby until the speed of the rotor is attained. This will permit still higher speed of rotation of the rotor with further acceleration of the load until finally the full speed of the motor is attained,

After the extraction of moisture the rotating cage must be brought to a stop which is accomplished through the automatic operation of a brake. This brake is illustrated in Figure 4 and comprises the lower portion of the drum W and brake shoes X for engaging the inner periphery thereof. The shoes X are carried by links X which at their inner ends are sleeved about an eccentric bushing X on the shaft R which bushing is coupled to the tubular shaft R The arrangement is such that whenever the driven shaft R is running at a lower speed or at the same speed as the tubular shaft R the shoes W will be Withdrawn from frictional contact with the drum W. If. however, the shaft R runs at a higher speed than the tubular shaft R (which is the case where it is driven by the inertia of the rotating basket when the motor is de-energized) the eccentric bushing X will move the shoes W outward in braking engagement with the drum W'.- This continues until rotary motion of the basket is retarded to quickly bring the same to rest.

With the construction as above described it will be understood that whenever the basket S is loaded with wet clothes and the motor R is energized there will be a gradual rotary acceleration of the basket and its contents until full motor speed is attained. During this acceleration the floating support for the basket furnished by the universal pivotal mounting of the motor housing and also with the universal pivotal mounting of the basket on the upper end of the shaft R, will permit such adjustments that the casing and its load will rotate about its center of gravity. This eliminates vibrations and also diminishes the power required for accelerating the load. and for maintaining its high speed rotation during extraction. The water which is centrifugally driven off from the clothes is permitted to escape either through perforations in the basket or by passing upward over the rim of the basket, the walls of which are slightly flaredi The water of the extraction will collect in the outer receptacle F from which it may be drawn off through a suitable drain connection Y.

As shown in the modified construction of Figure 5, the pin gear wheel is arranged below the motor and is mounted on a shaft K. Sleeved upon this shaft is the tubular shaft I for the armature or rotor of the motor and upon this shaft is mounted the worm I for engaging the worm gear I With the arrangement just described this gearing may be flooded with lubricant and as it is arranged below the motor there is no danger of the draining of the lubricant thereinto.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A laundry machine comprising a base frame, a hollow column rising therefrom, a radially extending flange on said column, a tube secured to said frame and forming an upward extension thereof, a washing receptacle having a central aperture in its bottom and resting upon said radial flange, an impeller mounted for oscillation within said receptacle and surrounding said tube, a tubular shaft sleeved upon said tube and connected at its lower end to said impeller, a shaft connected to the upper end of said tubular shaft and extending downwardly through said tube and hollow column, an electric motor at the lower end of said hollow column having its rotor shaft in axial alignment with said first mentioned shaft, means within said hollow column intermediate said shafts for converting the high speed continuous rotary motion of the one into low speed oscillations of the other, and a drain pipe communicating with said hollow column for draining said washing receptacle.

2. A laundry machine comprising a washing receptacle, an oscillatory agitator in said washing receptacle, a motor disposed below said washing receptacle, said motor having a vertically disposed tubular rotor shaft, a shaft connected to said agitator and passing through the said rotor shaft, and means disposed below said motor and interconnecting the rotor shaft and the agitator shaft for converting the continuous rotation of the rotor shaft into an oscillatory movement of the agitator shaft.

3. A laundry machine comprising a base frame, a hollow column rising therefrom, a washing receptacle at the upper end of said hollow column, an oscillatory agitator in said washing receptacle, a motor at the lower end of said column, said motor having a tubular rotor shaft extending vertically of said column, a shaft secured to the agitator and passing downwardly through the said rotor shaft, and means in said hollow column below the motor interconnecting said rotor and agitator shafts for converting the continuous rotation of the former into an oscillatory movement of the latter.

WILLIAM E. BOCK. 

